HG35F

Overview

The Hobart HG35F is a gas fryer with a Filter-In-A-Drawer system. Hobart identifies the model as ML-135536 in its HGF Series gas fryer manual and its HG Series parts manual. The filtration supplement lists the HG35F among the gas fryers that use the Filter-In-A-Drawer system. That system filters oil as it is pumped back to its respective fryer tank.

The filter system has a drawer that holds a filter tank, crumb basket and filter screen assembly. The fryer’s doors provide access to the drain and filter controls. During filtering, the operator drains oil from a fryer tank into the filter tank, then operates the filter controls to return the oil. The manual directs operators to filter only one fryer tank at a time.

Key Features

• Gas fryer with a drawer-based oil filtration system.
• Filter tank, crumb basket and filter screen assembly are installed in the drawer.
• The filter system pumps oil back to the respective fryer tank after filtration.
• The filtration supplement describes procedures for both liquid and solid shortening.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Hobart.
• Model: HG35F.
• Machine listing: ML-135536.
• Equipment type: gas fryer with drawer filter system.
• Filter system: Filter-In-A-Drawer.
• Filter assembly components identified in the manual: filter tank, crumb basket, filter screen assembly, filter drawer, filter suction port and filter suction connector.
• The manual also identifies a filter power switch, red filter valve handle and red fryer tank drain lever.
• Applicable documents include Hobart Form 34838, dated November 2002, and the Filter-In-A-Drawer supplement, Form 35615, dated November 2003. The parts manual is Form 43036, Revision B, dated August 2005.

Installation & Requirements

Hobart states that the installation manual is prepared for personnel qualified to install gas equipment. Qualified personnel should perform the initial field start-up and adjustments. The manual identifies gas connections, leveling and flue connections as installation topics, but the supplied information does not give HG35F-specific connection sizes, gas pressures, clearances or flue dimensions.

For installations in Canada, the manual lists local codes, CSA Standard C22.2 No. 3, Electrical Features of Fuel Burning Equipment, and CAN/CGA-B149.1, Natural Gas Installation Code, in their latest editions. The manual cautions that gas supply connections and pipe joint compound must be resistant to propane gases. Filter-equipped fryers require electrical connections, but the supplied material does not specify an electrical rating for the HG35F.

If a gas odour is detected, Hobart instructs operators to shut down the units at the main shutoff valve and contact the local gas company or gas supplier for service. The manual also says not to store or use gasoline or other flammable vapours or liquids near the appliance. Do not attempt to operate the device during a power failure.

Operation

Preparing the filter drawer

After unpacking, wash the filter tank, crumb basket and filter screen with dishwashing detergent and warm water, or clean them in a dishwasher. Rinse them thoroughly and wipe them dry with a clean cloth. Pull the filter drawer out and place the filter tank inside it. Hang the crumb basket from the left tank handle inside the filter tank. Set the filter screen assembly flat on the bottom of the tank, aligning its filter orifice with the suction hole. Check that both O-rings are in place inside the filter suction port. When closing the drawer, make sure the filter suction connector fits tightly into the port. The supplement says to turn on the filter power switch; its red pilot light comes on.

Filtering liquid shortening

1. Turn the fryer power off and open the doors. The manual notes that HGC and HGD models have a drain-valve interlock; that model-specific feature is not identified for the HG35F.
2. Slowly turn the red fryer tank drain lever counterclockwise until it stops so the oil drains into the filter tank. Drain and filter only one fryer tank at a time.
3. Pull out the filter drawer and lift the filter tank cover. Check that the filter tank and its parts are assembled correctly.
4. Add 8 ounces of diatomaceous earth to the filter tank and agitate it to mix with the shortening. Replace the cover and slide the drawer closed.
5. Pull out the red filter valve handle for the tank being filtered. Use a brush to move residue from the bottom of the fryer tank into the drain tube. Let the oil recycle for 1 to 3 minutes to flush residue from the tank bottom into the filter.
6. Turn the red fryer tank drain lever clockwise until it stops to close it and allow the fryer tank to refill. When filtering is complete, the manual says all oil will have left the filter tank and air bubbles should appear in the fryer tank. Push the red filter valve handle in completely.
7. Turn the filter power switch off and close the fryer doors.

Filtering solid shortening

Follow the fat-melt procedure in the fryer instruction manual and set the fryer thermostat to 350°F (177°C). Once the shortening has melted, stir the oil to eliminate solid shortening in the cold zone; all solid shortening must be fully melted. If filtering from a cold start, let the fryer idle at 350°F (177°C) for 10 minutes. Turn the fryer off, confirm that the filter tank and parts are assembled, and ensure the filter drawer is fully closed before opening the drain valve. Drain the shortening into the filter tank and let it stand for approximately 6 to 10 minutes. Then follow steps 4 through 10 of the liquid-shortening procedure.

For end-of-day filtering, the manual says to make sure all the oil has returned to the fryer tank. Open the filter drawer approximately 1 inch for about 30 seconds so oil in the return line can run back into the filter tank, then close the drawer. When solid shortening is used, follow the fryer’s melt procedure the next morning.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Hot oil and fryer parts can cause burns. Hobart warns operators to use care during operation, filtering, cleaning and servicing, and not to leave filtering unattended. Spilled hot frying compound can cause severe burns; do not move the fryer without draining all frying compound from the tank. The fryer manual recommends keeping the fryer on a regular preventive-maintenance schedule and contacting a local Hobart Service office for details.

Filter drawer cleaning

Clean the filter screen assembly daily. To clean the drawer, pull it out and remove the filter tank cover. After the filter parts have cooled, lift the filter tank out of the drawer and set it aside. Lift the drawer from its slides, then lift the slides off their guides. Remove the crumb basket from the tank. Disassemble the filter screen assembly by sliding the metal latch off its bar and lifting the bar to access the internal filter.

Wash the filter parts, drawer and drawer guides with normal dishwashing detergent. The manual says these parts are dishwasher-safe. Rinse them thoroughly and wipe them dry; all parts must be completely dry before reuse. Reinstall all removed filter parts, and replace the top cover before operating the filter system. Remove excess debris from the crumb basket as needed after filtering one or more batches.

If oil takes longer than 4 minutes to return during a filter cycle, the manual recommends boiling out the filter screen assembly as part of the normal fryer tank boil-out procedure. During fryer cleaning or boil-out, do not run water or boil-out solution through the filter motor or pump, and do not use the filter.

Fryer boil-out

Before cleaning, read the cleaning product manufacturer’s instructions. If a boil-out is required and no procedure is provided, the supplement gives this sequence: turn off the fryer, remove and set aside the filter drawer assembly, and drain and discard the shortening. Remove the filter screen assembly and separate its two parts; place them in the fryer tank to be boiled out. Clean the remaining drawer parts separately. Put a stock pot under the drain manifold opening, close the drain valve and fill the fryer tank with hot water to the Max fill line.

Set the thermostat to 210°F to 225°F (99°C to 107°C) and turn on the fryer. Let the water simmer, add boil-out solution and mix thoroughly. Do not boil the solution, as it may cause the fryer to boil over. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, watching the fryer and scrubbing the tank with the cleaning brush supplied with the fryer. Do not use a metal brush or scouring pad. Turn the fryer off and leave the solution in the tank for another 10 to 15 minutes, then drain it into the stock pot. If the pot is nearly full, close the drain valve, discard the solution and continue draining into an emptied pot as needed.

Rinse the tank by filling it with clean, hot water to the Max line and draining it. Refill it with hot water and add 1 cup (0.2 L) of vinegar per 20 lb (9 kg) of fryer capacity to neutralize caustic ingredients. Turn on the fryer and slow-boil for a few minutes with the thermostat set to 210°F to 225°F (99°C to 107°C). Turn it off, drain the tank, close the drain valve and rinse again with hot water. Drain the tank, dry and reassemble the filter screen assembly, and thoroughly dry the fryer tank. Close the drain valve, reinstall the filter drawer assembly and fill the tank to the Min fill line with fresh oil or shortening.

Troubleshooting

• Oil return takes longer than 4 minutes: Hobart recommends boiling out the filter screen assembly as part of the fryer tank boil-out procedure. The manual notes that thick grease residue on the screen can hinder filtration.
• Solid shortening may remain in the return line: After all filtered oil has returned to the fryer tank and the filter power switch is off, open the filter drawer approximately 1 inch. This lets remaining shortening drain into the filter tank and helps prevent the line from clogging as the shortening cools and solidifies.

Applications

The HG35F is identified as a gas fryer for commercial kitchen use. Its drawer filtration system supports filtering fryer oil and returning it to the fryer tank. The supplied procedures address routine filtering with liquid shortening, filtering after solid shortening has melted, and cleaning the filter components as part of fryer care.